Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Major Baptist seminary rejects practice of speaking in tongues
Kansas City Star ^ | Oct. 17, 2006 | Brett Hoffman

Posted on 10/19/2006 5:44:54 PM PDT by split

FORT WORTH, Texas - After a Baptist pastor said in a chapel service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary that he sometimes speaks in tongues when he prays, seminary trustees adopted a resolution Tuesday that states the institution will not tolerate the promotion of the practice of speaking in tongues.

The resolution: "Southwestern will not knowingly endorse in any way, advertise, or commend the conclusions of the contemporary charismatic movement including private prayer language. Neither will Southwestern knowingly employ professors or administrators who promote such practices."

Speaking in tongues is described in the Bible as a spiritual gift from God that empowers humans to speak in other languages. But many contemporary theologians teach that the practice was distinctly for first-century Christians. However, in the past century, Pentecostal and charismatic Christians have contended that speaking in tongues should be practiced in today's churches.

Patterson said he has consistently maintained a different view.

"I have opposed (speaking in tongues) for all of these years because I think it's an erroneous interpretation of the Bible," he said. "Southern Baptists traditionally have stood against what we feel like are the excesses of the charismatic movement. All we're doing is restating where we've always been."

Baptists are "the most intense advocates of religious liberty," Patterson said, defending the right of other Christians to believe in speaking in tongues. "But don't wear a Yankee uniform when you play for the Mets."

"We interpret the Scriptures in such a way that we do not see room for a private prayer language and we're saying we will not waver on that," Redmond said.

(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: baptists; nopopesomanypopes; popehashismerits; religiousfreedom
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220221-224 next last
To: Quix
I didn't mean to be insulting. Are you always insulted when people don't agree with you? I was part of that scene longer than you know, and did well to put it behind me. I take a more rational approach to religion now, and question many things that I never dared question before and know better than to let it all out on these forums.

The person I addressed didn't respond, and you came back with so many posts, emphatic statements, bible quotes, it's overwhelming to me to try to wade through all that.

I'm more than a little curious about why the atheist has followed this thread, can't help wonder if he/she finds it amusing that Christians squabble so much or what.

201 posted on 10/21/2006 9:06:11 AM PDT by Aliska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 188 | View Replies]

To: wmfights
I am unfamiliar with this practice, where in the Bible does it tell you that you should do this?

"Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication" (Eph. 6:18).

"For one who speaks [prays] in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit....He who speaks [prays] in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Now I want you all to speak [pray] in tongues, but even more to prophesy " (1 Cor. 14:2-5).

When we pray in tongues to the Father, we let the Spirit pray His perfect but mysterious and secret prayer on our behalf.

(2) For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself (promotes spiritual growth and character development). (14) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. (15) So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. (16) If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? (17) You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. (18) I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. (19) But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

202 posted on 10/21/2006 9:52:12 AM PDT by PleaseNoMore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 199 | View Replies]

To: Aliska

Are you always insulted when people don't agree with you?
= = = =

The abundant evidence would suggest strongly otherwise to most informed and fair-minded observers.


203 posted on 10/21/2006 9:59:54 AM PDT by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 201 | View Replies]

To: PleaseNoMore
"For one who speaks [prays] in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit....He who speaks [prays] in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Now I want you all to speak [pray] in tongues, but even more to prophesy " (1 Cor. 14:2-5).
__________________________________

I appreciate the response.

My Bible does not have the word pray where you've inserted it. I've always understood tongues from the example given at Pentecost. I don't think it's very straight forward that you should have a private prayer language.
204 posted on 10/21/2006 10:01:06 AM PDT by wmfights (Psalm : 27)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 202 | View Replies]

To: PleaseNoMore

Well done. Thanks.


205 posted on 10/21/2006 10:01:16 AM PDT by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 202 | View Replies]

To: wmfights
What bible translation are you using?

I believe using a concordance or Greek lexicon can clear up many of the generic (mis)understandings and (mis)applications we have of scripture.

206 posted on 10/21/2006 10:05:40 AM PDT by PleaseNoMore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 204 | View Replies]

To: durasell

How dare you say that!! My mother is a saint!!!


207 posted on 10/22/2006 1:54:55 PM PDT by escapefromboston (manny ortez: mvp)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: escapefromboston

I've already apologized (several times) to those who took offense...please, let's not start it up again.


208 posted on 10/22/2006 2:02:28 PM PDT by durasell (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 207 | View Replies]

To: Quix

Do Baptists really think that God only had the gifts of tongues for a certain time and then he just went dead silent on tongues and canceled them out? If that truly was the case then it would be written in his word that the gifts of tongues were a temporary movement.
Baptists are usually grounded in Gods word but on this issue they have rejected a gift that comes from Gods heart.
Pray to God to allow him to give you what he desires.


209 posted on 06/18/2009 11:54:33 AM PDT by corinnekei (tongues)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: corinnekei

“GROUP THINK”

“IN-GROUP” VS “OUT-GROUP”

“THEOLOGY”

and related forces have held sway in

RELIGION

for more than 2,000 years.

Usually they pontificate about I Cor 13 . . .

having brain fade about how, actually, I Cor 13

speaks FOR tongues etc. being throughout the “CHURCH AGE.”

However, group social forces, egos, arrogance, turf, etc. are all very powerful forces which tend to put even God in 2nd place in the lives of so many

“erudite”

“RELIGIOUS” “LEADERS.”


210 posted on 06/18/2009 12:18:48 PM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 209 | View Replies]

To: wmfights

Though Paul . . .

who said we ought to

follow him as He followed Christ . . .

mentioned praying in tongues . . . and thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than all his readers.


211 posted on 06/18/2009 12:20:36 PM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 204 | View Replies]

To: corinnekei

Clearly an old thread, but I’m very curious as to the reactions of some folks on here. Why is speaking in tongues bad? Why should it be banned? According to some on here, everyone I’ve heard speaking in tongues was just babbling incoherently and they should be shunned for it.

Interesting.

An amazing amount of fear over a relatively small thing.


212 posted on 06/18/2009 12:27:52 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater ("Get out of the boat and walk on the water with us!”--Sen. Joe Biden)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 209 | View Replies]

To: split
I do not have the time to read this entire article, but from what I have seen it does not say what the Headline insists. "Major Baptist seminary rejects practice of speaking in tongues.".

Instead the clear language of the article is that the Seminary simply disagrees with the modern doctrinal position of (generally) Charasmatics.

"Southwestern will not knowingly endorse in any way, advertise, or commend the conclusions of the contemporary charismatic movement including private prayer language.

The Southern Baptists do not think the gift of tongues ever was or is given for the purpose of being someone's private personal prayer language unknown to all others and given to someone for that same person to edify themselves instead of the "Body".

213 posted on 06/18/2009 1:07:44 PM PDT by Old Landmarks (No fear of man, none!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: durasell
I thought it was funny. That's what they sound like, "gibberish" and no one knows what they are attempting to say. There is no need in it today.

Ever wonder what Arabic shorthand looks like?

214 posted on 06/18/2009 1:56:07 PM PDT by annieokie (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Fairview
Thank you.

There have been times when I have been so grieved (the loss of my son), I did not have the words to pray, but the bible tells me that the Holy Spirit is able to interpret the grief and tears and present them to our Lord.

I have no need to babble.

215 posted on 06/18/2009 1:59:21 PM PDT by annieokie (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: MineralMan
What I do not understand is one Christian saying of another that he or she is wrong and not a "true" Christian, based on these differences.

Based upon which differences?

Please name the specific differences you are referring to and the parties guilty of using those specific differences to judge who is a 'true' Christian.

For some reason (discernment here) you seem to be confused. You made an erroneous and huge leap from the word "wrong" to the words "and not a true Christian".

Paul did not always agree with Peter completely and had to set him straight; in fact he told him he was wrong to his face, but nowhere did he say Peter was not a Christian.

Paul is mostly correcting the carnal Corinthian church when he wrote them. He corrected their errors gently, but he did not say they were lost due to their abuse of the gifts.

If Paul did not think it mattered, he would not have acted as if it did matter.

There is a dearth of Bible knowledge in America today, it is heartbreaking.

Some doctrinal positions, such as the virgin birth, or Jesus' death, burial and resurrection are much more important than others, such as tongues.

216 posted on 06/18/2009 2:38:25 PM PDT by Old Landmarks (No fear of man, none!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: Quix
mentioned praying in tongues . . . and thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than all his readers.

FWIW, my only reservation about speaking in tongues is the Scriptural example we are given is those speaking did so in native languages that others understood. The speakers were not creating a language.

217 posted on 06/19/2009 7:57:59 AM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies]

To: wmfights

St Paul did speak of Heavenly language, unknown languages as well, however.


218 posted on 06/19/2009 8:03:39 AM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 217 | View Replies]

To: Old Landmarks

True.


219 posted on 06/19/2009 8:04:27 AM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 216 | View Replies]

To: annieokie

I’ve experienced a lot of both.

The release in my spirit, heart, mind, emotions, psyche

was much more robust, fuller, complete

when praying in tongues.


220 posted on 06/19/2009 8:05:25 AM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 215 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220221-224 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson